Canning tongs



H. M. BOAL.

CANNING TQNGS. APPLICATION man mulo. 192|.

muted Nov. 14,1[922 Hgh Mm@ 31a/vento@ Patented Non. i4, i922.

HQE.

HUGH ivi. Boat, or rrrusvinnn:.riiniisYLvANia Giannina Tones.

application ined may io,

To all whom t may conce/m: y

Bev it known that l, HUGH M.. Boar,- a

citizen of the United States. residing at' Titusville, in the county of Crawford and tate of yPennsylvania, liaveinvente'd certain new and useful improvements in Can-v` ning rllongs, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to tongs, of the type utilized for handling fruit jars, cans and the like, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a novel type of tongs, which can be readily and easily used to grip a jar or canand effectively hold the same against accidental displacement.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pair of canning tongs embodying a pair of movable members each consisting of a single length of wire of the desired gauge and bent into a novel configuration to firmly grip a jar or can to prevent the slipping thereof from off of the tongs, the formation of the members utilizing a minimum amount of metal.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved pair of canning tongs for facilitating the placing and lifting of cans or jars into and out of boiling water of the above character, which will be durable and efficient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a f reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction,

arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved tongs.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the iinproved tongs showing the same positioned on a ar, the jar being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A indicates the improved pair of tongs, which include the movable members B and C. The members B and C are of the same construction, and include the relatively long handle portions 5,

l. tl

1921. Serial No. 468,242.

the inner portions of which' are bent outwardly and downwardly in opposite directions as at, andthese lbent portions 6 are pivotally connected together at their points of crossing, by means ofrany suitable pivot pin or thelike 7. The terminals vof the bent portions 6 are bent' downwardly to provide straight shank portions 8, and these portions are adaptedto engage the opposite sides-'of jar or can. The extreme lower ends of theislianks S ai'e'bentatright angles to provide jawsV 9, and these jaws 9 have formed on their ends which are opposite to the shanks 8, upstanding arms 10. These arms 10 are arranged diagonally in relation to each other and provided with right angularly disposed arcuately extending feet 11, which are adapted to partially encircle a jai' or can at the opposite sides thereof. llhe jaws 9 are also of arcuate configuration in plan, and are offset inwardly from the Shanks 8 and the arms 10 as at 12, in order to permit the same to readily engage under a jar or can. In order to facilitate the positioning of the jaws 9 under a jar or can, the same have their upper surfaces inclined as at 13, to provide a sharp inner edge 111, which facilitates the lifting of the jar and the positioning of the jar on the jaws. The lower faces of the jaws 9 are flattened as at 15 in order to permit the tongs to be stood upright and to permit the jaws to slide easily along the inner surface of the bottom wall of a receptacle or support, on which the jar or can is positioned.

In use of the improved tongs, the handles 5 are grasped by the user of the tongs and moved away from each other, which will move the jaws 9, the shanks 8, and the arms 10 away from each other, The tongs are then positioned over the jar which is to be grasped, and the handles 5 moved toward each other. The inclined faces 13 engage the lower edge of the jar or can and slightly raise the jar or can and position the same on top of the jaws 9. The Shanks 8 and the arms 10 will also be moved into firm engagement with the opposite sides of the jar or can and prevent movement thereof. The arcuate feet 11 will also firmly engage the opposite sides of the jar or can and posi tively prevent lateral movement thereof. Thus it can be seen that the jar or can will be engaged on all four sides, and thus displacement of the jar is absolutely precluded.

Changes in details may be made without departing` from the spirit or scope of this invention; but,

l claim:

l. In a receptacle litter, a pair of movable members each including a shank, handles formed on the upper ends of the shank, oppcsitely extending jaws formed on the lower ends of the shanks, and means -i'or pivotally securing the members together adjacent to the handle portions thereof, the jaws having :inclined upper faces and fiat lower faces.

2. A pair of canning tongs comprising a pair ci" straight Shanks, inwardly extending i offset portions formed on the upper ends of the Shanks, handles formed on the odset portions, ineans pivotally securing the offset portions together adjacent to the handles, right angularly extending oppositely disposed jaws formed on the lower ends of the shanks, upstanding diagonally disposedarins formed on the ends of the jaws remote from the shanks, and inwardly extending arcuate feet formed on the arms and arranged to engage and partially encirclel a can being lifted.

3. A pair of canning tongs comprising a pair of straight Shanks, inwardly extending offset portions formed on the upper ends ci' the shanks, handles iornied on the inner ends of the offset portions, means pivotally securing the offset portions together adjacent to the handles, the shanks being inclined downwardly and laterally in opposite directions troni the oilset portions, right angularly arranged oppositely extending jaws formed onthe lower ends oi? the Shanks, upstanding arins formed on the jaws, arcuately extending feet formed on the arins and arranged at right angles thereto, the jaws having inclined upper faces and flat lower faces.

HUGH M. BOAL. 

